On the Origin of the Village Name “Ývoliai”

  • Laimutis Bilkis
Keywords: historical toponymy, historical anthroponymy, development of oikonyms, origin of oikonyms, historical records of onyms

Abstract

    Based on the analysis of the data from the living language and historical sources, the article presents a comprehensive discussion on the origin and development of the name of the village Ývoliai, which is located in Kražiai eldership, Kelmė district. After reviewing the records of the oikonym from the living language and evaluating their reliability, the conclusion is made that the name form with a long vowel at the beginning of the word is authentic. When discussing the usage of the oikonym in historical sources, most attention is paid to the analysis of the records from the Baptism Register Book of Kražiai Parish of 1656–1672 in which this name was mentioned for the first time. In order to evaluate the history of both the name and the settlement bearing this name, the toponymic and anthroponymic context of historical records is provided: the mentions of the village and its residents are thoroughly reviewed; the links of the recorded people are revealed. Since it was found that the personal name *Yvolis (Iwolis, Iwolowa, Iwołayte, Iwalowa, Iwołaytis, Iwoliene, Iwalowna) actually existed in Yvoliai village and its environs in the second half of the 17th century, the conclusion is made that the oikonym is definitely of anthroponymic origin.

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